Samsung targets emerging markets with cheaper Galaxy Note 3

Samsung could downgrade the hardware on the Galaxy Note 3 in emerging markets to allow it to be sold to consumers at a more affordable price.

Sammobile reports that an LCD screen will be preferred to the usual Super AMOLED display and the 13-megapixel camera replaced by an 8-megapixel one.

The less powerful device will represent 30 per cent of the initial production volume with the resulting reduction in production costs being passed on to consumers in emerging markets.

The Galaxy Note 3 phablet is expected to be unveiled at the same launch event as the Galaxy Gear smartwatch on 4 September.

As far as specifications are concerned the device could ship with a monstrous 3,450mAh battery that dwarves the 3,100mAh and 2,500mAh that shipped with the first two incarnations of the phablet. It also beats the previous record for Samsung’s largest smartphone battery, the 3,200mAh that shipped with the Galaxy Mega earlier this year.

Sammobile, usually a reliable source of Samsung-based information, uncovered a DLNA certification earlier this month that confirmed the device will ship with Android 4.3 Jelly Bean.

Rumours peg the screen as a 5.7in full HD 1,920 x 1,080 display with a 13-megapixel camera, 3GB RAM and it’s all powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 processor. This conflicts with some other reports that state the device will actually come in three screen sizes – 5.7in, 5.99in and 6.3in – with the new Exynos 5 Octa processor running the show.

All eyes are now on the Samsung ‘Unpacked’ event on 4 September when the Galaxy Note 3 is likely to be launched alongside the Galaxy Gear smartwatch and the world will get to see the new phablet in all its glory.